Chapter 7: The Palm

Qin Huining saw the person walking slowly under the sunset from a distance, and her pupils contracted.

Qin Yining was tall and beautiful, and as she walked, the honey-colored cloak slightly opened, revealing a rippling light yellow long skirt. The ripples swayed lightly, making her gait appear very graceful, with a hint of agility within her delicacy. Her back was straight, and when she saw Qin Huining, she smiled slightly. Her appearance resembled that of Prime Minister Qin when he was young, making Qin Huining feel somewhat inferior.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Huining told herself: "I am the legitimate daughter! I am proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting! She is just a wild person! I am familiar with everything in this mansion, Qin Yining should be the one feeling nervous!"

After mentally preparing herself, Qin Huining smiled and walked towards Qin Yining, taking the initiative to hold her hands and bowing: "Little sister, you've arrived. I was just thinking of instructing someone to invite you from the Snow Pear Courtyard. There are rules to follow in the mansion."

She still didn't let go of the issue of addressing her, this person was insufferable!

Qin Yining returned the greeting with a smile: "Miss Huining, thank you for your kindness. It's just that Mama Jin informed me of the rules before you did, so I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of the madam. But I appreciate your kindness."

Upon hearing "Miss Huining," Qin Huining's smile stiffened for a moment. When she heard that Mama Jin had informed her, she couldn't help but start to doubt the attitude of the madam, and she subtly glanced at Cai Shi beside her.

Cai Shi immediately blinked in understanding.

Qin Huining then took Qin Yining's hand and walked into Xingning Garden, saying gently, "You've just returned, and you're not familiar with everything in the mansion. If you need anything, feel free to ask me. Although I'm not talented, I still know some of the most basic principles." She subtly mocked that Qin Yining didn't even understand the most basic rules.

"Thank you, Miss Huining. My father will arrange for a tutor and a nanny to explain the rules. But I grew up in the countryside, naturally not as fortunate as Miss Huining, who grew up in a noble family." She insinuated that Qin Huining was smug about her privileged position.

The two of them walked to the corridor, smiling at each other.

Qin Huining had been staring at Qin Yining's eyes from the beginning, perhaps because of Qin Yining's resemblance to her father. Her gaze was sharp and cold, with a hint of understanding, as if she could see through everything, giving off a sharp and coldness akin to a wild beast, causing Qin Huining to involuntarily dodge her gaze. When she realized what she had done, she started to feel sulky.

Unexpectedly, Qin Yining's sharpness was not weak at all.

"The Fourth Miss and Miss Huining have arrived," the voice of the senior maid Caiguo broke the deadlock, and she knelt down and bowed, pulling aside the warm curtain.

Qin Huining's mood plummeted instantly.

The address "Fourth Miss" was no longer for her. With just one sentence from her father, she had changed from the legitimate daughter to a foster daughter.

Qin Yining could clearly see her expression, and her brows furrowed slightly.

The dim light cast a faint halo on the ground beneath the two, and a warm breeze and a faint scent of melons and fruits wafted over, as if spring had arrived.

They handed their cloaks to the maids and Qin Yining couldn't help but curiously look around with her misty eyes. She had thought her own residence was already good, but now she realized what true luxury was when she arrived at Xingning Garden.

At least, there was no warmth like this in her place.

They walked past the screen and into the side hall. Qin Huining smiled sweetly and said, "Mother, have you had your dinner?," as she quickly approached and sat next to Madam Sun, looking at Qin Yining as if to show off.

Qin Yining made a polite greeting and addressed, "Madam." She envied how close Qin Huining could be with Madam Sun.

Madam Sun patted Qin Huining's hand, her gaze complex as she looked at Qin Yining, and coolly said, "You may also sit down. Have you had your dinner?"

Caiguo immediately brought over a cushion and placed it five steps away from Madam Sun.

Qin Yining sat down and glanced at where Qin Huining was sitting and at the hands held tightly with Madam Sun. Her gaze gradually turned cold, and she politely and respectfully lowered her eyes, saying, "Madam, I have already eaten."

Madam Sun responded with an "Oh," not knowing what else to say.

The atmosphere became somewhat tense.

Seeing Madam Sun's discomfort, Qin Huining smiled and said, "Is Xiao Xi still comfortable living in the Snow Pear Courtyard? Is there anything she lacks?"

Madam Sun immediately said, "Yes, if there's anything lacking, just tell the servants, and they will prepare it." She praised Qin Huining and tapped her nose.

The intimate gesture made Qin Yining feel even more like an outsider.

In fact, when Madam Sun suspected her of being a concubine's daughter, she was already an outsider, wasn't she?

Burying her expectations and disappointments deep in her heart, Qin Yining self-mockingly curved her lips, revealing two small dimples on her cheeks, "Thank you for your concern, Madam."

Madam Sun looked at Qin Yining, her gaze slightly softened.

A girl so similar to Qin Huaiyuan, with a pleasant disposition, made it impossible for her to feel any aversion. However, she still harbored doubts about whether she was a concubine's daughter.

Seeing Madam Sun's attitude soften, Qin Huining felt uneasy, and she coquettishly asked, "Mother, where is Father? Is he coming back today?"

Madam Sun's face darkened by half.

Qin Huaiyuan had four concubines, and today it was Flower Aunt's turn. He had just sent someone to say that he wouldn't be coming back today.

Thinking that they had argued because of the girl in front of them, and now they couldn't even meet to reconcile in the evening, Madam Sun couldn't help but feel angry. She looked at Qin Yining with a gaze that couldn't hide her disgust and couldn't help but blurt out some sarcastic words.

"The master cares for you. He has already sent someone to the palace to invite a nanny who is well-versed in etiquette and manners. She will arrive early tomorrow morning. He also spent a lot of money to hire a tutor for you. This is a treatment that even Hui Jie and the others did not receive." As Mrs. Sun spoke, her heart grew more sour. She had not yet confirmed anything, but she had convinced herself eighty percent. She felt that Qin Huaiyuan was treating Qin Yining so well because of his favoritism towards his concubine, and her voice involuntarily rose.

"I don't care where your mother is now. Since you are in the mansion, you must abide by our rules. When you are instructed to learn, you must study carefully and not think about slacking off or making excuses. Our family will have many opportunities to appear in public in the future. If you embarrass us outside and tarnish the reputation of our mansion, I will make sure you regret it!"

Upon hearing Mrs. Sun's reprimand, Qin Yining had already stood up. At this moment, her expressionless face and lowered eyelashes seemed as if Mrs. Sun's cutting words had carved out a piece of her heart, which was then frozen into a lump of ice by the cold blood.

Her birth mother had repeatedly refused to acknowledge her, suspecting her origins, which had truly hurt her heart!

She had only been back in the mansion for a short half-day, and she was already disliked by her grandmother, suspected by her relatives, and bullied by the servants. Even her birth mother treated her this way!

Was she here to be mistreated?

She endured and endured again, thinking that her own cleverness and understanding would win over these people's hearts. But what did she get in return?

Perhaps she was too naive, imagining the life of a noble family to be too beautiful.

Every person living here did not hesitate to use all kinds of malice to speculate about others' intentions. Even when they were not causing any harm, they still wished to trample others underfoot to highlight their own superiority.

These people were even more terrifying than wild beasts!

Wild beasts eat people to survive.

They "eat people" for their own selfish desires!

Suddenly, Qin Yining understood that being weak and yielding would not earn her any sympathy. If she continued to be weak and gentle, she might not even realize the day when someone around her poisoned her!

"Madam, do you still refuse to believe my identity? You and father have been married for many years. Have you ever seen father deceive you about such matters? Father's lack of a legitimate heir could easily be resolved by openly bringing one back, and no one would say anything about it. Why would he need to deceive you, a mere woman? Your groundless suspicions have hurt your daughter's heart, and do you not care about hurting father's heart as well?"

Mrs. Sun's face turned red with anger, and just the phrase "lack of a legitimate heir" had already pierced her heart, not to mention the subsequent questioning.

Because of Qin Huaiyuan's lack of a legitimate heir, she had been subjected to her mother-in-law's disdain. She couldn't bear children, so she had allowed Qin Huaiyuan to take a concubine. But even the concubine couldn't bear children, which could only mean that Qin Huaiyuan had a problem. However, her cunning mother-in-law stubbornly believed that she had used drugs to make the concubine infertile.

Now, this little brat dared to bring it up so openly. How could she not be angry?

"Shut your mouth!" Mrs. Sun's hand trembled as she pointed at Qin Yining. "What kind of thing are you! I give you an inch, and you take a mile! Someone, teach this wild girl a lesson!"

Mrs. Sun pointed at Caiju, a senior maid, who came forward to slap Qin Yining. But when she looked up and met Qin Yining's icy gaze, she suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She couldn't bring herself to strike, thinking that this girl was truly like a wild animal with her eyes!

Mrs. Sun, feeling unsettled by Qin Yining's cold gaze, stepped forward and pushed Caiju aside, then raised her hand and slapped Qin Yining across the face.

Qin Yining covered her face, her expression changing from disbelief to understanding.

The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the room, leaving Mrs. Sun's hand tingling, but she felt a sense of relief. She grabbed Qin Yining's collar, her voice filled with resentment. "Whether you are my daughter or not, I will investigate. But regardless of whether you are or not, you have no right to speak in front of me! Qin Meng's lack of a legitimate heir, is that my fault? If you want to defend him, then just recognize him as your father, and don't think about recognizing me, a mere woman, as your mother!"

"Madam, please calm down." Nanny Jin hurried forward to persuade Mrs. Sun, who had said too much.

Qin Yining also stepped forward to support Mrs. Sun, her tearful eyes pleading, "Mother, please don't be angry. It's all the daughter's fault. If the daughter hadn't been brought here, none of this would have happened, and you wouldn't have been wronged. If you continue to be angry, it's like stabbing a knife into your daughter's heart."

Mrs. Sun pursed her lips and tears fell from her eyes.

Seeing the girl who had been stunned by her own slap, Mrs. Sun felt a strange sense of guilt and heartache. Regardless of whether she was her own daughter or not, as a stepmother, she had to teach when necessary. This suppressed her guilt, and she spoke coldly, "You, leave!"

Qin Yining looked at Qin Huiyuan's pretense and learned a few things.

She lowered her head to hide her cold smile and spoke softly, "Madam, please calm down."

Mrs. Sun didn't even look at her.

Qin Yining turned to leave.

At that moment, the sound of the warm curtain being pushed open was heard, and then Qin Huaiyuan, wearing a light gray cloak with a large fur collar, entered with a dark expression, glaring at Mrs. Sun.